Much has been about the power of social media in political campaigns. President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns have been praised for their superior use of social media to attract voters.
GOP campaign consultant Todd Rehm said that while social media can be part of an effective campaign strategy, especially in targeting more voters to go vote in low-turnout elections, it is foolish to make it the centerpiece of that effort.
“In the 2010 election cycle, a lot of people thought there was something magical about Facebook,” said Rehm. “It can be useful for some things to the extent that if you have enthusiastic volunteers and supporters who are saying positive things in positive ways, it can help help reinforce the motivation of your base of voters and attract additional support.”
“However,” Rehm added, “when I hear a candidate say we don’t to have to raised money (for direct mail or television advertising), we’re going to use Facebook and e-mails and Twitter to win this thing, that meeting is over, because they aren’t going to win that way.”
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